One of the things I hate most about travelling is all the small details that go into planning a trip, and one of the most important (and often expensive) tasks is getting to the airport. Since I am from Toronto, I know this airport the best and will be targeting this post on how to get to and from Pearson Airport for cheap.

Here is a list of various ways that you can get to the airport in Toronto for cheap:

Public Transit – $3.00 each way

Other than walking, taking the TTC is the cheapest possible way to get there, but they really don’t make it easy to do so. Firstly, you have to take the TTC all the way to one of the furthest possible stations (if you are coming from downtown Toronto), then get on a bus that will take around 45 minutes. Knowing how slow TTC is on a regular day means your travel time could be anywhere from an hour to well over 2 hours. As you can tell this is not my way of choice to get there but if money is the biggest determining factor then this is the cheapest option.

For more details about getting to and from Pearson Airport on the TTC click here.

Shuttle Bus – $5.00 and up each depending on source/destination

If you are looking to get to the airport from downtown Toronto a little faster than the above option, you have two choices:

First, there is a service called the Toronto Airport Express Shuttle which runs from various locations in downtown Toronto to Pearson Airport every 30 minutes. It is quite expensive considering the length of the journey at $25.60 for a one way trip and $38 for a round trip, but is an option if you are travelling alone downtown and don’t have a car and want to pay less than a taxi.

Secondly, you can do a combination of TTC and Go Transit. Go Transit offers several buses that leave from Yorkdale and York Mills Station every 20-25 minutes which will get you to the aiport in under 30 minutes (depending on traffic of course). Go Transit also offers service from Brampton & Richmond Hill but there are also various other shuttle bus companies that run from many other cities around Ontario. For a full list of shuttle companies see our chart at the bottom of the page for a list of companies and which regions they service.

NOTE: If you have a very early flight then you might need to look at other transportation options as many shuttles don’t start running until around 5am.

By Car -Price varies based on length of trip and lot choice

If you own a car, one of the easiest ways to get to the airport is to drive there yourself. Around the airport there are many self-park lots that will allow you to leave your car for any length of time and then shuttle you to the airport. I have tried a few of them but always seem to go back to Park’N Fly as they are by far the most recognizable brand and also because they have the most shuttle buses of all the other companies (which means I don’t have to wait long). Park’N Fly offers 3 choices for lots that vary based on their distance from the airport, services offered and shuttle bus frequency. They regularly offer coupons that will give you a few days free when you book a week, so if you are going to be travelling for a while be sure to look for a coupon before you go.

For more information, check out my Park’N Fly Review!

Taxi – Price varies based on pick-up/drop-off point

If you don’t have your own car, a taxi might be a good, fast & convenient option for getting to the airport. I personally find taxis to be very expensive though with an average trip cost of around $50 plus tip in the GTA. They are also only slightly cheaper than an airport limo so given the choice I would take the limo. Here is a list of flat-rate pricing for a taxi from the airport to downtown Toronto.

Airport Limo – Price varies based on pick-up/drop-off point

Taking a limo to the airport can be one of the most comfortable ways of getting there, but like the taxi, it definitely comes with a price tag. This is definitely the option I would take if money is no option, but this blog isn’t about splurging it is about saving money. The only tip I can give with this option is to do some research if you are planning a trip to the airport. If you look online you can often find many limo companies that offer rates cheaper than the ones posted at the terminal (which unfortunately you will have no room for negotiation on). In case you are interested though, here is a list of flat-rate pricing for limos to and from Pearson Airport.

APPENDIX I: Additional Shuttle Service Companies

Airlink Airport Service
Tel: 519-756-1944 or 1-877-405-8278
Major stops: Aylmer, Brantford, Caledonia, Hagersville, Jarvis, Simcoe, Waterford

Air York Inc.
Tel: 1-888-795-2777 or 905-953-9980
Major stops: Aurora, Markham, Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Stouffville, Vaughan.

Airways Transit
Tel: 905-689-4460 ( Hamilton Area)
Major stops: Bronte, Burlington, Campbellville, Hamilton, Milton, Oakville

Tel: 519-886-2121 (Kitchener-Waterloo area)
Major stops: Ayr, Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, Wellesley

Canar Coach Service
Tel: 1-800-387-7097 or 905-564-1242
Major stops: Kincardine, Port Elgin and Walkerton

Century Airline Service
Tel: 705-748-3961 or 1-800-465-5987
Major stops: Bancroft, Bobcaygeon, Lindsay, Millbrook, Peterborough

Classique Airline Service
Tel: 1-800-387-5450
Major stops: Ajax, Bowmanville, Hampton, Oshawa, Whitby

Coach Canada
Tel: 1-800-461-7661
Major stops: U.S. and Canadian destinations

Grey-Bruce Airbus
Tel: 1-800-361-0393 or 519-389-4433
Major stops: Brampton, Durham, Kincardine, Orangeville, Owen Sound, Port Elgin

Greyhound Bus Service
Tel: 1-800-661-TRIP (8747)

Ontario Coachway – Quinte/Northumberland Airport Service
Tel: 1-888-677-4287 or 613-968-2058
Major stops: Belleville, Brighton, Coburg, Colborne, Kingston, Madoc, Napanee, Picton, Port Hope, Wellington

Niagara Airbus
Tel: 905-374-8111 ( Niagara region), 905-677-8083 ( Toronto ), (716)
835-8111 ( Buffalo region), or 1-800-268-8111
Major stops: Buffalo, Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Welland

Northern Airport Service
Tel: 705-672-2033 or 1-800-461-4219
Major stops: most towns and cities along Hwy 11 to North Bay

Red Car Airport Service
Tel: 519-824-9344
Major stops: Elora, Fergus, Guelph

Robert Q’s Airbus Inc
Tel: 519-673-6804 or 1-800-265-4948
Major stops: Chatham, Detroit, London, Sarnia, St. Thomas, Windsor, Woodstock

Simcoe County Airport Service
Tel: 705-728-1148 or 1-800-461-7529
Major stops: Barrie, Collingwood, Orillia, and all points in Simcoe County

Stratford Airporter
Tel: 519-273-0057
Major stops: Cookstown, Lefroy, Sandy Cove, Simcoe County
Trentway Wagar Inc.
Tel: 416-961-9666 or 1-800-461-7661
Major stops: Belleville, Bowmanville, Brighton, Cobourg, Colborne, Kingston, Napanee, Port Hope, Trenton

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